From the moment we are born, we begin to die. I personally have never been afraid of death, and yet I’ve always been interested in keeping my body healthy so that while I am on this earth, I can live life to the fullest. Up until recently, my focus has primarily been physical health…and then last year happened.
2017 was rough for me for various reasons. As the year progressed, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated and agitated. I’ve never been one to turn away from conflict in a “fight or flight” situation and yet, every situation was beginning to feel like a decision of whether to fight or flee.
By October, I’d hit rock-bottom and desperately started exploring any possible way I could get out of my rut. About that same time, I caught up with a friend who was raving about a course she had taken earlier that year and insisted I take it as well. While I was supportive of her journey, I was hesitant to follow suit because, well….the class was expensive and…let’s just say my friend is a marketer’s dream. The course…MEDITATION.
My first thought was, “you want me to take some hippy-dippy course in mediation? I am not a Buddhist monk.” Still, by this point, I was ready to try anything. I paid my deposit to secure my spot in the next available workshop and booked a flight to New York. What I experienced was what I believe will prove to be nothing short of life-changing.
The science of meditation is awe-inspiring and the learnings are growing at a rapid pace. Researchers have found that meditation actually lengthens our telomeres – an essential part of human cells that affect how we age. A daily meditation practice is said to be able to add 8-15 years to your life!
I completed my mediation training two weeks ago and have been diligent in my practice – two 20-minutes sessions per day. It’s a commitment. And it’s hard. Some days my mind is racing. Other times, I enter a state of pure relaxation. In the short time I’ve practiced, I’ve noticed a vast improvement in my mood, energy, length and quality of sleep, and creative thinking. It’s not easy – but nothing truly worth it ever is, is it?
I look forward to sharing my progress with you as I observe the positive impact of my meditative journey. Until then, check out this 6-minute YouTube video from my teacher, Emily Fletcher, Founder of Ziva Meditation in NYC: